Improved device for propelling canal-boats



anaa- States ate-1d Gtt'jlite.

JOHN B. CALNA N, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND VARANUS P. PARKHURST, OE TEMPLETON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 106,54' 7, dated August 23, 1870.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR PROPELLING CANAL-BOATS,

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN B. CALNAX, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a newand improved Device for Propelling Canal-Boats and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact; description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in whicl-- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved device for propelling canal-boats.

Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to the mode of propelling a canal or other boat by means of a drum, or suitable mechanism, on the boat, communicating with a draftcarriage or pinion meshing in a rack, which extends along the shore of the canal or stream and It consists-- zl irstgin connecting the driving mechanism onthe boat, with the draft-carriage on shore, by means of a band, rope, or chain, which, while maintaining communication between the said mechanism and draftcarriage, and transmitting motion from the one to the other, will also allow the boat to sway freely back and forth, or from side to side in the canal, and to respond to its rudder. 1

Secondly, in the combination, with the boat, driving mechanism, draft-carriage, and band, rope, or chain which connects the same, of an independent draft or tug-rope or chain, fastened at one end to the boat, and at the other to the draft-carriage, substanstantially as hereinafter set forth.

'lhirdly, in a band-supporting device, substantially as hereinafter described.

Fourthly, in the construction of the dra ift-carriage, and its combination with the rack and bed, over which it moves.

In the drawing- The draft-carriage is representd at F. It consists of the upper and lower plates a (I, which supportvertical axles I), that carry flanged wheels 0 0. These wheels serve to support the carriage, and to aid it in its movement by lessening friction.

The flanges of the lower wheels rest upon rails C and E, and the faces of these wheels lie between and are in contact with the inner faces of the rails. The flanges of the upper wheels are underneath an upper rail, A, against which the faces of these wheels hear.

The rails A and C are supported on posts B, while the rail E is supported by brackets D projecting from the posts. a I

The bed or track upon which the carriage runs, in

stead of being thus made, may, however, be construct ed and arranged in any suitable manner.

In the carriage is also arranged a vertical shaft, G, which has its hearings in the plates a, carrying a. pinion, (1, that meshes with a rack-bar, e, fastened to the posts 13, and extending parallel with the lower rails.

The upper end of the shaft extends above the carriage, and has mounted upon it a grooved wheel, f, the revolutions of which will cause the rotation of the shaft and its pinion el, and, consequently, the move ment of the carriage along the rack e.

The carriage is connected with the boat by means of a flexible band, rope, or chain, H, which passes from a drum, g, on board the boat, around the wheel f, so that, when the drum is revolved in the proper direction, it will cause, through the medium of the ba-ndl-l, the rotation of wheel f and band G, and the consequent forward movement of the carriage above explained.

\Vhen the carriage is thus moved forward the boat will be drawn after it, either by means of the band H, or, which I prefer, by means of an independent tug or draft-rope or chain, fastened at one end to the boat, and at the other 'to a bar or hook, it, swiveled on the shaft G.

The hub H is supported near the wheel f by means of a frame .or arms projecting from the swivel-bar It, so that it .may be free from danger of dropping from the wheel, and, in order to avoid riotion at that point, it passes over friction-rollers i that have their bearings in the band-supporting frame orarms.

By making the band H of a flexible material a great advantage is gained, as the boat is free to sway back and forth, to move from side to side, and to respond to the rudder. i

If the band should be slack, the band-supporting device prevents it from dropping from the wheel f, while, as both this device, and the tug or ban-draft hare swiveled, they also have all needed freedom of motion. The tug-rope or chain I also is flexible, of course.

Power is applied to the drum on the boat by suitable mechanism, either. by a small steam-engine or otherwise. The carriage mayrun on horizontal axles, like an ordinary truck, if preferred, and its construction, as well as that of the track, may be greatly varied without affecting my invention.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the driving mechanism on the boat, and the draft-carriage, of a flexible band, rope, or chain, connecting the same,'substantially as described, so that, while motion is communicated from the driving mechanism to the draft-carriage, through said band or chain, the boat may be free to move from side to side, and to respond to. its rudder, as set draft-carriage, so as to vary its position in accordance with the change in the positioniot' the boat and the flexible band, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the draft-carriage, constructed as herein described, with-the rails upon which it runs, and by which it is supporteduboth vertically and laterally, as shown and set forth.

JOHN B. OALNAN.

Witnesses:

W. G. ROBINSON, HENRY ROGERS, E. Dowrqss, M. DILLON. 

